"Steve was very upset," Shanahan told reporters in Denver. "Obviously he called Jamal and apologized. Those things do happen. It surely wasn't intentional, and he feels real bad about it, as does everybody.

"In fact, I called him myself and left him a message on his phone. Just told him how unfortunate it was and what a great player he was and sorry it did happen."

Williams couldn't be reached for comment. Herndon wouldn't comment.

Shanahan called Herndon into his office, "and I asked him what he was thinking when he was going downfield," the coach said. "Of course you like your linemen to hustle downfield.

"I don't know if you noticed, but right on the sideline, and this is the interpretation of Steve, Clinton Portis is ready to cut back in and he slips and when Clinton slips, he thinks Clinton is staying up and cutting back where he's going to try to get his head on that side of Jamal. Of course, when Clinton slips he turns the other way to look at Clinton and hits him in the back of the ankle."

Schottenheimer asked the NFL to review the play.

"I'm a bit troubled by it," Schottenheimer said on Monday. "I find it disappointing a player would commit an act like that, knowing full well what the result might be. Clearly, it was unnecessary and, clearly, it was a foul."

No penalty was called on the play.

Leonardo Carson will start in Williams' spot in Sunday's home AFC West showdown with the Oakland Raiders. The teams are tied for the division lead at 8-4.

On Wednesday, the Chargers signed defensive lineman Shawn Price, a nine-year veteran who was cut by Buffalo just before the season started.